STEP 1
FIND THE DRONE PILOT CERTIFICATE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
In Canada, to legally fly a drone weighing 250g or more, you must register it and obtain a drone pilot certificate. Failure to comply with these conditions can result in fines of up to $15,000. There are two types of certificate: for basic operations and for advanced operations. Please read the text below to determine which type of certificate is best suited to your operations. The next steps will depend on this choice.
Basic certification
With a drone pilot certificate for basic operations, you can fly a drone under the following conditions:
- Maintain a horizontal distance of at least 30 meters between your drone and anyone not involved in the operation.
- Fly your drone in uncontrolled airspace*.
* To visualize on a map the areas prohibited to drone flights in the context of basic operations, we suggest using the NAV Drone Viewer tool. To understand how to use and interpret NAV Drone Viewer, please click on the “Help” tab in the top right-hand corner of the tool.
to obtain this certificate
- You must be at least 14 years old;
- You must pass Transport Canada’s basic exam.
Advanced certification
With a drone pilot certificate for advanced operations, in addition to being able to fly your drone for basic operations, you can:
- Maintain a horizontal distance of less than 30 meters between your drone and any person not involved in the operation.**
- Fly your drone in controlled airspace**.
** To perform a drone flight in one of the scenarios associated with advanced operations, you need both a drone pilot certificate for advanced operations and a drone listed on the list of eligible drones to advanced operations on the Transport Canada website.
to obtain this certificate
- You must be at least 16 years old;
- You must pass Transport Canada’s advanced exam (passing the basic exam is not a prerequisite);
- You need to pass flight review. This is a practical exam to assess a candidate’s ability to plan and complete a drone flight.
STEP 2
TAKE A THEORY COURSE
Basic theoretical course
To obtain a Basic Operations Drone Pilot Certificate, you must pass Transport Canada’s Basic Theoretical Exam. Our “Preparing for the Basic Exam” online course covers the material you need to learn to pass this exam. Please click on the course link below to access it.
Advanced theoretical course
To obtain your Advanced Operations Drone Pilot Certificate, you must first pass Transport Canada’s Advanced Exam. Our “Advanced Exam Preparation” online course covers the material you need to learn to pass this exam. Please click on the course link below to access it.
STEP 3
TAKE THE EXAM(S)
Basic certification
Passing the basic exam
Once you’ve completed our “Basic Exam Preparation” course, you can attempt the basic exam on Transport Canada’s website. Once you’ve passed the exam, you can download your drone pilot certificate for basic operations from their website. This certificate will enable you to fly your drone in a basic operational context.
Need a practical course?
If you’ve never flown a drone before and would like to learn with an instructor, we offer the “Introduction to Drone Piloting” practical course. For more information, click on the “Learn more” button.
Advanced certification
1. Passing the advanced exam
Once you’ve completed our Advanced Exam Preparation course, you can attempt the Advanced Exam on the Transport Canada website. Once you’ve passed this exam, you’ll receive your drone pilot certificate for basic operations. You will not receive your drone pilot certificate for advanced operations until you have successfully completed the flight review.
2. Pass the flight review
Once you’ve passed the advanced exam, you’ll need to pass the flight review. When you book a flight review with Drone Académie, you receive free access to our“Flight review preparation” online course.
Need a practical course? If you’ve never flown a drone before, it’s strongly recommended that you gain some flying experience before attempting a flight review. You can gain this experience on your own, or you can take our “Flight Review practice” hands-on training to prepare yourself one-on-one with an instructor. If you would like to find out more about this practical course, click on the “Learn more” button.
STEP 4
SPECIALIZE
Once you’ve obtained your drone pilot certificate, you may be interested in specialization training. This additional knowledge will enable you to exploit your drone to its full potential, and unlock new opportunities for you. To find out more about a particular specialization course, please click on its link. Please note that if you’re interested in a specialized course, our professional bundle could be for you.
